TOKYO: Leaders and emissaries from Asia and beyond reacted with shock and concern to the shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.
Here are some key comments:
“It’s a very, very sad moment,” the US secretary told the Anthony State Blinken told reporters at the G20 meeting in Bali, saying the United States was “deeply saddened and deeply concerned.”
“We don’t know his condition,” he said. “Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan.”
Earlier, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said he was “saddened and shocked”.
“Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and a staunch ally of the United States,” he said in a statement.
“I am shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible events in Nara,” British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom tweeted, referring to the town where Abe was shot.
“Former Prime Minister Abe is a close friend to the UK. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time.”
“Shocking news from Japan that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been shot dead,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted.
“Our thoughts are with his family and the Japanese people at this time.”
“Deeply saddened by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and the Japanese people.”
“We pray for the health of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe,” the Russian Embassy in Japan said in a Facebook post.
“We strongly condemn the barbaric attempt on his life.”
The French Embassy in Japan expressed concern over the “hateful” attack, saying its thoughts were with Abe and those close to him.
“The French Embassy learned with emotion and dismay of the heinous attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara,” the mission said on Twitter.
“Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is very shocked by what happened to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters in Bangkok.
“Prayut and Abe are friends and they have a relatively close relationship as they have met on several occasions.”
Enrique Manalo, the Philippines’ foreign secretary, expressed “great shock and dismay” at the attack.
“I express my deepest sympathy and pray for his speedy recovery,” he tweeted.
Here are some key comments:
“It’s a very, very sad moment,” the US secretary told the Anthony State Blinken told reporters at the G20 meeting in Bali, saying the United States was “deeply saddened and deeply concerned.”
“We don’t know his condition,” he said. “Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan.”
Earlier, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said he was “saddened and shocked”.
“Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and a staunch ally of the United States,” he said in a statement.
“I am shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible events in Nara,” British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom tweeted, referring to the town where Abe was shot.
“Former Prime Minister Abe is a close friend to the UK. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time.”
“Shocking news from Japan that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been shot dead,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted.
“Our thoughts are with his family and the Japanese people at this time.”
“Deeply saddened by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and the Japanese people.”
“We pray for the health of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe,” the Russian Embassy in Japan said in a Facebook post.
“We strongly condemn the barbaric attempt on his life.”
The French Embassy in Japan expressed concern over the “hateful” attack, saying its thoughts were with Abe and those close to him.
“The French Embassy learned with emotion and dismay of the heinous attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara,” the mission said on Twitter.
“Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is very shocked by what happened to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters in Bangkok.
“Prayut and Abe are friends and they have a relatively close relationship as they have met on several occasions.”
Enrique Manalo, the Philippines’ foreign secretary, expressed “great shock and dismay” at the attack.
“I express my deepest sympathy and pray for his speedy recovery,” he tweeted.
